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Medicines During Pregnancy

Overview

Doctors usually tell women to avoid medicines during pregnancy, if
possible, especially during the first 3 months. That is when a baby's organs
form. But sometimes you have to take medicine to treat a health problem, such
as
high blood pressure or
asthma.

So first your doctor or midwife will
look at the risk. Is the risk of taking a medicine higher than the risk of not
treating your illness? If you or your baby would face worse problems without
treatment, then your doctor or midwife will prescribe medicine or
recommend an
over-the-counter one. He or she will also look at
which medicine to give you. For example, some
antibiotics are safe for pregnant women. And some are
not.

What medicines can you take during pregnancy?

It can be hard to know if a medicine is safe for your baby. Most
medicines are not studied in pregnant women. That's because researchers worry about
how the medicines might affect the baby. But some medicines have been taken for
so long by so many women that doctors have a good idea of how safe they
are.

If you are planning a pregnancy, talk to your doctor or
midwife about any medicines you take, even over-the-counter
ones. Some of them may be safe to take while you're pregnant. But others may not be safe.
Your doctor or midwife may have you stop taking a medicine or may switch
you to another one. Some medicines that aren't safe in the first trimester may
be safe to use later in the pregnancy.

What medicines should you avoid during pregnancy?

Some medicines are known to increase the chance of birth defects
or other problems. But sometimes there's more risk for the mother and her baby if she stops taking a medicine (such as one that
controls seizures) than if she keeps taking it. Talk to your doctor or midwife about any medicines you take if you
are thinking about having a baby or if you are pregnant.

Some of the medicines that increase the chances of birth defects
are:

The
acne medicine isotretinoin (such as Amnesteem and Claravis). This medicine
is very likely to cause birth defects. It should not be
taken by women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant.

ACE
inhibitors, such as benazepril and lisinopril. They lower blood pressure.

Alprazolam (such as Xanax),
diazepam (such as Valium), and some other medicines used to treat
anxiety.

Paroxetine (such as Paxil). This medicine is used to treat
depression and other conditions.

Over-the-counter pain medicines
like aspirin and ibuprofen (such as Advil and Motrin) and naproxen (such as
Aleve). The risk of birth defects with these medicines is low.

Is it okay to take herbal supplements and vitamins?

Talk to your doctor or midwife about any herbal supplements
that you take. Don't take any vitamins or herbal or other supplements
unless you talk with your doctor or midwife first.

Women who are trying to get pregnant and those who are pregnant
should take a multivitamin that has folic acid. Folic acid is most important before and in the
first few weeks of pregnancy, because it prevents some birth defects. You can
get folic acid in an over-the-counter multivitamin. Or you might get it in a multivitamin that
your doctor or midwife prescribes. Talk to your doctor or midwife
about which type of vitamin you should take. In some cases, doctors and
midwives prescribe extra iron or extra folic acid.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.